By Florence Ugbem & Brenda Agba
The Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), with support from UNICEF, has called for the release of N2.8 billion to strengthen nutrition services in Benue State.
The appeal was made on February during a one-day state-level media roundtable held at Nnam Hotel, Makurdi, focusing on the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and the implementation of a six-month paid maternity leave policy in the state.
In a press statement signed by the Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, the organisation described malnutrition as a critical public health and development challenge in Benue, Nigeria’s celebrated “Food Basket of the Nation.”
He noted that despite the state’s strong agricultural potential, child malnutrition indicators remain alarming, with stunting at 25.3 per cent, wasting at 6.7 per cent, and underweight at 13.6 per cent, alongside widespread household food insecurity.
“These conditions undermine child survival, learning outcomes, workforce productivity and long-term economic growth,” he stated.
Okoronkwo emphasised that investing in nutrition is not optional but a smart economic strategy. According to him, global and national evidence shows that malnutrition weakens human capital and suppresses earnings, while timely investments in maternal, infant and young child nutrition — especially within the first 1,000 days — yield high returns through improved health, cognitive development and productivity.
He outlined the organisation’s advocacy priorities to include:
Securing sustainable domestic financing for nutrition; Leveraging innovative funding mechanisms such as the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF); Ensuring timely release and efficient utilisation of budgeted nutrition funds; and Scaling up high-impact maternal and child nutrition interventions, with emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding and comprehensive support within the first 1,000 days.
CS-SUNN also called on stakeholders government, media, private sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations to strengthen policy implementation and financing for nutrition. The group advocated the extension of maternity leave from three to six months to protect mothers and infants.
The media was urged to prioritise nutrition and food security as development issues through sustained, evidence-based reporting, and to amplify accurate messaging on breastfeeding, complementary feeding and maternal nutrition to counter misinformation.
The organisation further encouraged the private sector to invest in food fortification, promote affordable nutritious foods, strengthen local value chains to improve diet diversity, and implement breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies.
Non-governmental organisations were urged to mobilise communities, engage policymakers and monitor service delivery and budget implementation.
Earlier in her presentation, CS-SUNN Steering Committee Co-Chair, Ambassador Rachel Aji, advocated increased funding for nutrition programmes in the state, stressing that the release of N2.8 billion would significantly enhance effective implementation.
In his remarks, the covering Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, and Chairman of the Benue State Food and Nutrition Committee, Mr. Orinya Ogenyi, assured stakeholders that the state government under Governor Hyacinth Alia would give due consideration to the requests presented at the dialogue. He added that budgetary allocations for nutrition were captured in the state’s 2026 budget.
